Letter-box for collection and delivery



(No Modem' 2 sheets-smet 1. W. SCOTT.v LETTER BOX FOR COLLECTION ANDDELIVERY.

No. 458,273. Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM SCOTT, OF LEAVENVORTH, KANSAS.

LETTER-BOX FOR COLLECTION AND DELIVERY.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,273, dated August25, 1891. Application tiled February l0, 1891. Serial No. 380,937. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, VILLIAM SCOTT, of Leavenworth, Leavenworth county,Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forReceiving and Deliver ing Mail-Matter, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to devices which are designed to be attached to thedoors of dwellings and other buildings and which are intended to receiveand deliver letters, papers, and other mail-matter; and the objects ofmy invention are to produce a simple, durable, and inexpensivearrangement which can be easily manipulated either by the postman indelivering mail-matter or by the occupants of the building in depositingmail-matter to be collected by the postman.

A further object of my inventionis to produce an arrangement which shalleifectively protect the mail-matter from being stolen from thereceptacle in which it is placed for collection, and, finally, toproduce an arrangenient which shall be ornamental in appearance andinexpensive in construction.'

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an outer side elevation of a portion of a door with myimprovements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of thesame on the line 2 3 of Fig. l, the collection-receptacle being inclosed position. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the said line 2 3, thecollection-receptacle being in open position. Fig. et is a verticalcross-section of the same on the line at l of Fig. 3, the plane ofsection being at right angles to that of Figs. 2 and Fig. 5 is avertical cross-section of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. l, the planeof the section being similar to that of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. G is aninner side elevation of a portion of a door with my improvements appliedthereto. Fig. is a detached detail view of a modiiied forni of a supportfor the mail bag or receptacle.

In the said drawings, l designates a portion of the outside door of adwelling, oflicebuilding, or other similar structure, the door beingpresumably an outside door, as described; it being understood that myimproved devices are designed for application to any door at whichdeliveries and 'collections of mail-matter are to be made. 2 designatesan elongated horizontal slot or opening which is cut through the door atany point which is convenintly accessible to a postman while deliveringand receiving letters and other inail-matter. For this purpose this slotor opening 2 is preferably cut in the middle or lower part of the door,and it is preferably so cut that its lower margin shall inclinedownwardly and inwardly, as shown.

The upper part of this slot is formed with an upwardly-extending openportion 2l,which is a continuation of the slot 2, and which opens at itsupper end through the rear or inner side of the door, and the lower partof which communicates with the upper part of the said slot 2 between itsinner and outer sides. The purposes of the slot 2 and its upper portion2l will be hereinafter fully explained. Upon the outer side of this dooris attached by screws 3 or other equivalent devices an open rectangularframe et, the sides of which coincide with the margins of the slot,while the opening of said frame corresponds with the opening of theslot. Upon the outer or front side of this frame is formed a flange 5,which coincides with the upper side of the opening of said frame, andwhich also projects horizontally outward or forward therefrom for apurpose to be presently explained. Two vertical iianges 6 are alsoformed upon the outer or front side of the frame, one of said flangesbeing located at each end of the opening of the frame and adjacent tothe end margin of said opening. Between the margin of the opening andthe corresponding side of the flange 6 is placed a leaf-spring T, theupper end of which IOO rivet or pin 9, which passes transversely througha suitable standard or double projection upon the inner side of thecovering or name-plate .l1 and near the lower edge thereof. Thiscovering or name-plate is shown as of suitable rectangular form tocorrespond with the opening of the frame 4: and is formed or provided onits inner or rear side with a continuous marginal flange 12, which, whenthe plate is closed, covers the flange 5, before referred to, and thuseffectually excludes dirt, dust, rain, moisture, or other injurioussubstances from entrance into the slot 2. The general arrangement of theparts above described iis similar to that shown and described in LettersPatent No. 449,593, granted to me March 31, 1891, and the cover isretained in opened and closed position by the peculiar point ofattachment of the lower ends of the springs 7, similarly as in saidformer application. It is to be observed, however, that in thepresentinstance the screw or rivet or similar device which connects theupper ends of the i springs 7 to the frame et do not extend parallelwith the outer side of the frame et, as in the said former application,but that said attaching devices extend through the upper ends of thesprings at right angles to the outer side of said frame. This is amaterial and important distinction, inasmuch as the attachment of thesprings is in the present instance greatly facilitated, and thecompactness of the structure is greatly enhanced, while the workingstrains are much more evenly borne than in the previous arrangementreferred to.

Upon the opposite or inner side of the door 1 is attached, by screws 13or equivalent devices, a frame 14, which is of open rectangular form,and the margins of the opening of which coincide with the inner marginsof the slot 2. On its outer side this frame 14 is formed suitably orprovided with a flaring flanged holder 15, which is designed to receivethe upper part or mouth of a bag or pouch 16 to receive the lettersdelivered by the postman through the slot 2. As shown in Fig. 6, thisholder is of continuous elongated form with its inner portion coincidingwith the margins of the opening of the frame 11.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of the holder, which is composedof two flaring segmental flanges 31, which are designed to be attachedby screws 32 or other equivalent means to the inner surface of the doorat op posite ends of the slot 2. In either event the mouth of the bag orpouch is provided with a string or band 17, preferably of elasticmaterial, which surrounds the flanged holder, and thus retains the pouchin proper position to receive mail-matter inserted through the slot 2.

It is to be understood that if preferred the holder may be constructedsimply of wire or similar material, so as to be of skeleton form,without departing from the essential spirit of my invention.

In order to facilitate the opening and closing of the name-plate orcover 11, a knob 18 or similar projection is formed or cast upon theupper part of said plate, and thus by a pressure of the thumb or fingerupon said knob or projection the plate can be readily moved into open orclosed position, as desired.

In order to prevent the contents of the bag or pouch from being stolenafter having been delivered by the postman, a flap or gate 19 ofsuitable rigid material is hinged at its upper edge upon the outside ofthe frame, as shown at 20, and lies pendent over the inner terminus ofthe slot 2. From this construction it will be seen that when the bagorpouch 16 is i-n position any attempt to force the iiap or gate openbeyond what is required for the admission of mail-matter will beprevented by said Hap coming into contact with the upper part of thebag, and consequently all possibility of abstracting the contents of thebag or pouch is prevented.

The portion 21 of the slot 2 is for the purpose of admitting letters,papers, or other mail-matter which the occupants of the build-A ingdesire to be collected bythe postman, and it will be seen that withoutthe attachments, which are to be presently described, this additionalslot 21 forms a convenient means for delivering the mail-matter to thepostman without necessitating the opening of the door. In the lower partof this slot 21 is placed a hinge-pin or pintle 22, which extendshorizontally parallel with the outer and inner sides of the door. Tothis pintle is hinged the lower edge of a plate or cover 23, which is ofsuch size and shape as to close the inner part of the portion 21 whensaid plate is in closed position. To the ends of this plate or cover 23are attached triangular pieces 24 of any suitable flexible fabric ormaterial, the opposite edges of which are secured to the adjacent endmargins of the portion 21 of the slot 2. Immediately above the portion21 is a turn-pin 25, which extends loosely through the door,horizontally, from front to rear thereof. The inner end of this pincarries a disk-like enlargement 26, which engages over the upper edge ofthe plate 23 when the pin is properly turned axially, and thus retainssaid plate 23 in raised or closed position. The opposite or outer end ofthe pin 25 is provided or formed with an arm 27, extending at rightangles to the body or stem of the pin, and it will be seen that t-hepostman will know by the position of this arm whether the plate 25 isopen or closed, and consequently whether any mail-matter is to becollected or not. Upon thc same pin or pintle 22, upon which the plate23 is hinged, is also hinged the lower or inner edge of a plate 28,which is of such form and size as to tit over the lower end of theportion 21 at its point of juncture with the slot position, it forms abottom for the portion 21, and consequently any mail-matter placed inVsaid slot will be retained therein as in a rcceptacle until the plate2S is turned downward. The outer end of this plate protrudes lVhen thisplate 2S is in closedY IOO IIC

beyond the outer side or surface of the door, and thus the postman canreadily depress the plate by applying pressure to its pro- "trudingedge, and the mail-matter will drop of itself out of the portion 2l ofthe slot 2 and into his hands. This plate is retained in raised orclosed position by two springs 29, each of which is set in a recess inthe upper part of each outer end margin of the slot 2. Each of thesesprings is of elongated form and its body portion is inwardly curved, sothat as the plate 2S is raised and lowered its end margins will moveover the convex surfaces of said springs and will be retained therebyeither in open or closed position, as desired. It will thus be seen thatI have devised a simple and compactform of collection attachmentoperating with the portion 2l of the slot 2 and serving to greatlyfacilitate the collection of mail-matter by the postman, and at the sametime fully protecting the mailmatter while awaiting collection.

The structure as a whole is simple, durable, and easily manipulated, isnot liable to get out of order, and is both inexpensive in constructionand ornamental in appearance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is l l. An improved mail-deliverydevice coinprising a covering-plate hinged upon sustaining-springspivotally connected to said plate, the ends of said springs which areconnected t0 the door being secured thereto by pins or equivalentdevices passing through the ends of the springs transversely to thesurface of the door, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved mail-delivery device comprising an open frame designed tobe attached to a door and provided with a iiared support for abag orpouch, and a gate or flap hinged within the opening of said frame andserving to prevent abstraction of the mailmatter from the bag or pouch,substantially as set forth.

An improved delivery device for mailmatter, comprising asupporting-traine for a bag composed of two separate curved andoutwardly-flared sections designedto be secured to the inner surface ofa door, so as to stand vertically against said surface, and serving tosupport the mouth of the bag, substantially as set forth.

4. An improved mailing device comprising a door having a slot extendingthrough from its outer to its inner surfaces and provided with anupwardly and inwardly extending opening, a plate covering the innerportion of the opening at the point of its juncture with the slot, andretaining-springs engagingthe ends of the plate and serving to retainthe plate in open and closed position in said slot, substantially as setforth.

5. An improved mailing device comprising a door having a slot extendingfrom its outer to its inner surfaces and provided with an upwardly andinwardly extending opening, a movable plate covering the inner part ofsaid opening, a turning bar extending through the door and having at itsinner end an enlargement to .engage the upper edge of said plate and toretain the latter in closed position, a handle or arm upon the outer endof said bar, and a second plate covering the inner portion of theopening at the point of its juncture withv the said slot, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM SCOTT.

Vitnesses:

.l No. L. CoNDoN, G. Y. THoRPE.

